The previous weekend my other half came out cycling with me whilst I hacked Charmeur and we had a lovely time through the woods and then did some slightly "lively" schooling in the big field nearby. He took some great photos, aided by the fact there were motorbikes flying past the hedge in the adjacent woods which added somewhat to his cadence! I do not generally practice medium trot on him at this stage, but these photos show at least that he does have one!
His yard is a good 1 hour 20mins away and it felt like a long drive down those country lanes to East Sussex. My heart started beating a little faster when I discovered that his outdoor school had no fence, there was a busy road close by, and I could tell in Charmeur's eyes everything looked a little "exciting"! Charmeur can be very sharp and spooky at times, but is never nasty. I like them like that in the early stages as this natural energy pays off much later in the training. I've done a lot of hacking, jumping and different things to give him a good all round education and let him see the world and grow up in his own time.
So, the lesson started well. Charmeur was relatively relaxed and it was really interesting Markus talking through in detail what he actually does with his back end, the stiff and hollow sides, and how I can help him through it. Was just like being back in Germany in fact! We started with achieving submission, asking for some outside flexion, then building up impulsion with inside flexion once he was tracking up and relaxed over his back. About half way through something seemed to upset Charmeur and he started calling out and became really tense. Markus said don't worry, just accept the situation (that by now every horse in Sussex was calling back to him!) and to just carry on. So we did, and started working the trot canter transitions, thinking leg yield on the right rein prior to asking for the canter to engage that right hind leg. Once we got the canter with him remaining balanced and straight I then needed to give the outside rein (rather than the inside one initially) as he tilts his head slightly to the outside. Once I managed to really let go and get him under my seat more he remained straight really nicely.
Still, all was going well. We gave him a walk break and had a chat. Whilst walking with loose reins, something startled him, he spun 180 degrees so I lost my left stirrup, then he galloped off across the school bucking, which is very unlike him. He used to do this at times in the early days but I would just pull him up, but as I'd lost a stirrup this made it impossible, and he didn't appreciate me bouncing around all the more on his back. Off we bounded, like a crazed deer on drugs, right out of the school while I tried to stay on and not ruin my record of not falling off for 17 years. Sadly the worst was about to happen and I was quite in shock as I hit the ground as I really never come off!! I have gained quite a reputation for staying on tricky horses. And how mortifying to come off in front of Markus!! Anyway I was soon back on board and Markus importantly said forget that anything happened, don't get angry, don't ride differently. Within a few minutes we were back trotting and cantering calmly just as we had been, so at least order was restored, not sure what all that was about but still, overall a very good lesson.
Markus offered me a job as a "stunt rider" helping to break in his youngsters over the Winter haha.
So all this was two days before Charmeur's dressage debut at Oldencraig, and the fact the weather was meant to be awful (torrential rain) didn't put me in good spirits! I took along my good friend Nikki and gave her instructions to catch the pony first if we did part company! We arrived in the morning and Charmeur thought everything was very interesting indeed, and whilst on the box called out to every horse and passer by. I was tentative as I headed to the warm up as he felt very, very fresh. But I tried to ride as we always do, gave him out all the rein and waited for him to settle. Which actually he did do quite quickly, although I was ready for any spooks or spins. We stayed in no higher than second gear as we know the pony can move, its all about getting him chilled and focusing. I apologise to people who said hello, including a lady on a lovely grey who recognised us from the Horse and Hound forum, as I was really concentrating to keep it all together.
To make matters worse both of our tests were outside. I'd hoped at least one would be indoors then I could pass on the outdoor one. He was reasonably calm as we headed over for our test but naturally woke up a bit when he entered the ring. I trotted him forwards and past the judge's box which he had a good look at. I had zero expectations of the test besides to just get round it, not fall off and not gallop out of the arena! So I'm really pleased to say we managed these goals. Yes he was very tense, spooky and all over the place, but he's a really intelligent pony and I know he will get over all this in a few outings, he doesn't tend to keep spooking at the same old things.
Quick break before the second test. I thought the judge was incredibly generous to give us 59% actually as we had very little submission or relaxation, and I'd purposely made circles bigger or smaller depending on the situation. Also generous was the score of 7 for his paces, so wonder what he will get on a good day. But today wasn't about the marks anyway. So we warmed up for the second test and by now it was absolutely pouring with rain and we could barely trot let alone canter in the flooded warm up arena. Charmeur was ever so confident as he dragged me into the test arena, now being an expert in what happens next at a dressage show having just done it all half an hour ago. This is what I mean, he's not silly, he's actually quite bold once he knows what he's up to. I was really really pleased that before the bell went I had him trotting round on a circle so relaxed I could have stretched him down on a long rein. However, the judge rang the bell REALLY loudly this time and we went flying across the school! Sadly we started and ended the test in a similar fashion, all relaxation out the window. I made the elective decision to trot in some of the canter sections as he just felt too tense. But again, we did manage to make it through the entire test without anything totally disastrous occurring. Again, a generous score considering we'd ad libbed a bit, and a comment of "talented pony."
So actually a very interesting, varied and productive week for Charmeur. My aim is now to get him out to as many unaffiliated shows as I can until he becomes more ridable in the arena. I am confident he's going to be a really good one as he has the paces and the brain, plus a little added pizazz which is essential to stand out.
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